No less than the Bicol police regional director, PBGen. Arnel Escobal, was on hand last Friday for the provincial launching of the Sama-samang Iangat ang Kabikolang Ayaw sa Droga (SIKAD), his brainchild of promoting physical fitness and spreading awareness of the hazards of illegal drugs.

RD Escobal, accompanied by the regional police command group, joined Catanduanes police provincial director Col. Paul Abay and personnel from Camp Francisco Camacho provincial headquarters, bike enthusiasts from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) as well as civilian bike enthusiasts.

A brainchild of PBGen Escobal, SIKAD plays on the local word for “kick” – symbolic of the program’s purpose of fighting off or going against illegal drugs.

Likewise connoting the movement for making a bicycle move which represents cycling, SIKAD is a campaign promoting physical fitness, thereby minimizing the chance for drug use and influence. It is also a bonding activity and an advocacy campaign to spread and promote awareness on the negative effects of illegal drugs and PNP’s on-going illegal drugs campaigns.

Following the registration of participants at Plaza Rizal covered courts in Virac, a program was started with a prayer led by Rev. Fr. Benju Royce de Jesus and a welcome message from PD Abay.

Participants from various groups were acknowledged by PMaj. Danilo Tenerife, officer in-charge of the Police Community Affairs and Development Branch (PCADB), with PBGen. Escobal delivering a message before the eager bikers.

With the Bicol police general and PD Abay at the point, the bikers began the 20-kilometer fun ride around Virac poblacion area with three stop-overs . At each of the rest area in Palnab del Sur, Cavinitan and Danicop, a lecture on SIKAD and related topics on the campaign against illegal drugs was conducted, along with the distribution of SIKAD flyers and conduct of Zumba dance exercise. Primary and tertiary school students participated in the launch, waving their SIKAD flaglets as the bikers passed by their campuses.

The launch ended successfully with a raffle where arm sleeves and wrist wallets, tumblers, helmets, and cash prizes amounting to P12, 000 were given away along with two brand new bicycles.

At 2:30 P.M. of the same day, the Bicol PNP regional director led the blessing and inauguration of the new Pandan Municipal Police Station (MPS) building at barangay Libod.

BGen. Escobal spearheaded the ceremonial ribbon cutting and unveiling of the marker together with Col. Abay, Mayor Honesto Tabligan II, and Pandan MPs officer-in-charge Maj. Jim Jeremias, with Rev. Fr. Jesus Guingguing, parish priest of St. Francis Caracciolo Parish officiating the blessing of the new headquarters.

In his message, Mayor Tabligan emphasized the need for the responsible maintenance of the new MPS building and for the local police to provide better frontline services to the community. 

The police regional director expressed his appreciation to the Pandan local government unit for its support to the PNP and assured that the local police officers will be accountable for the new building and better services to the Pandananons.

BGen. Escobal also encouraged barangay officials present to continue their support to the police as its partners in maintaining the peace and order in the locality and in drug-clearing operations.